Interesting ACARS

[Robert Zweck]

VH-ZXC QF 480 PER-MEL today

HDQOXQF 022150OX
AGM
AN VH-ZXC/GL PER1
- ACTUAL -CONT
2. 60 MINS FUEL WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE
APPLIED AS AN OPRISK FOR PORTS WITH
INTER T/S ON TAF -REF INTAM QOS0051
3. OPRISK FUEL IS ADDITIONAL TO
TAFOR/ATC REQUIREMENTS.

VH-ZXC B767-336 (ER)
.
SYD 40 MINS TOTAL ATC 022000 - 031200Z
DUE POSS SINGLE RWY OPS
.
END OF REPORT

--- END REPORT ---

[Owen H]

That is an operational risk assessment ACARS from Qantas.

As you can see, basically Qantas operations control has assessed that they want arriving aircraft in that timeframe to carry 40 minutes of holding fuel (instead of the usual ATC requirement) as a mitigator in case the flows slow down and it goes to single runway operations.

[Nigel C]

Which now it has...

ATIS ATIS YSSY L 030016
APCH: EXP VISUAL APCH
RWY: 25
OPR INFO: START CLEARANCE REQUIRED, CTC STARTER ON FREQ 127.6
WND: 270/15-28
XW MN 11 MAX 14 KTS
WX: CAVOK
+ TMP: 14
QNH: 1003

[Gerard M]

It looks like JQ761 is holding near Culin. REU771 was descending North east of Donnic but has now climbed back to FL330 and looks to be holding as well. Is RWY25 being used just because of the wind conditions on 34/16?
QF420 also holding near Culin.

[Nigel C]

With 28kts blowing pretty much straight down Rwy 25 I would say yes.

ATC wouldn't take lightly the decision to go to single runway ops.

[Gerard M]

The ATIS still reads as RWY 25 but i just watched JQ27 an A333 take off on of the 34's? It could be an error on PP's behalf but could it have been granted an exception to use 34 instead of 25?

[Nigel C]

16R/34L is still available if operationally required, even if it's not the nominated runway due to the current wind.

You'll probably find the US bound flights and perhaps a few other heavy departures will also ask for 34L.

[Robert Zweck]

Whilst in the Adelaide terminal this afternoon they announced " the departure of QF 752 ( VH-VXO ) to Sydney is delayed by 30 minutes due to ATC requirements in Sydney "

[Owen H]

That will be for an official "CTMS" time. Its a pseudo-slot system that Sydney uses for flights from certain domestic airports.

[Gerard M]

I'm just wondering as i've never taken notice and previously it never occurred to me to notice, with nearly a whole day of single runway ops (give or take the handful that used 34), what would that do to operating times? Will there be a backlog tonight pushing close to the curfew or will the domestic delays that were mentioned above help to ease the strain? Or does it not really impact the overall performance of the airport?

Did anyone get any good shots with all that wind today?

[Adam P.]

with nearly a whole day of single runway ops (give or take the handful that used 34), what would that do to operating times?

It shoots the schedule to pieces!!!

There were CTMS delays of up to an hour in some regional ports this afternoon. I don't know what the end result was (I'd gone home before the really bad ground holds were due to start), but hey it was a Friday, surely chaos was just around the corner!!

There were also start clearances required out of SYD at one point today, and the conga line of aeroplanes waiting for departure down TWY G meant big delays waiting for takeoff as well.

Not much airlines can do about it - delays through no fault of their own, but at the end of the day, passenger perception is that "Qantas was late again" rather than "weather made my flight late"...